pregnant and have the flu and a bad cough, what medication is allowed?

Mom Answers

When I was in my first trimester I had a bad cold. My OBG/GYN authorized ONLY Cold and Flu Tylenol with a lot of liquids such water, orange juice, nectar, etc. The cold last from 5 to 7 days. Follow your doctors advice you have to be careful at the first trimester.

Aside from Robitussin, Benadryl, and Tylenol, my doctor recommended to do a Sinus rinse regularly. It sounds gross, but it really does help clear up my congestion. I bought a sinus rinse kit at the pharmacy that comes with packets you put in warm water. The key is the water temperature. If it's too cold or too hot, it's uncomfortable (like getting water up your nose in a swimming pool), but if the temp is warm, it actually feels ok, and cleans out all the junk trapped up in there and helps you heal faster. Many people recommend doing this every day as a bedtime or morning ritual to ward off future illnesses. I'm going to try it for 30 days and see if it helps with my allergies.

My doc does not recommend anything beyond Tylnol for the first trimester. I am 4.5 weeks along and have a horrible cough with the flu. My doc suggested hot honey (lots) water with lemon to coat the throat,slippery elm bark lozenges (ex:Thayers brand) and Elderberry Cough Syrup which can be found in the children's section at your local health food store. I couldn't find the Elderberry as a "cough syrup" but I did find it as a "syrup" (Planetary Herbals brand).

You should definatley check with your Dr but mine gave me a list that they might also have for you. I was allowed to take: Cold and Flu symptoms-Tylenol Cold, Tylenol PM and for Cough-Robitussin DM. I had a really bad cold and cough when I was about 5 months pregnant and was very afraid to take anything but the Robitussin helped alot.

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